Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has launched a blistering critique of current manager Erik ten Hag, condemning his public handling of the bitter fallout with star winger Jadon Sancho as 'a mess' and 'disrespectful'.
The former England defender, speaking on his Vibe with FIVE podcast, did not hold back in his assessment of the situation that saw Sancho exiled from the first team and ultimately loaned back to Borussia Dortmund in January.
A Public Spat That Spun Out of Control
Ferdinand pinpointed Ten Hag's decision to publicly call out Sancho's training performances as the critical misstep. 'The manager's come out and said what he's said publicly, and normally that stays behind closed doors,' Ferdinand stated.
He argued that this breach of the typical private player-manager dynamic left Sancho with little choice but to defend himself publicly on social media, a move that effectively burned his bridges at Old Trafford. Ferdinand believes the entire episode could have and should have been handled with far more discretion.
Questioning Ten Hag's Man-Management
The core of Ferdinand's argument centres on Ten Hag's man-management skills. 'For a young player to be thrown under the bus like that... I didn't like it,' he declared.
He suggested that a more experienced manager in dealing with top-tier talent might have found a more constructive and private solution to address any issues with Sancho's application in training, rather than igniting a public war of words.
Sancho's Dortmund Revival Proves a Point
Ferdinand also pointed to Sancho's immediate impact upon returning to Borussia Dortmund as evidence of his enduring quality. The winger's successful reintegration and performances in Germany suggest his problems at United were not solely down to a lack of ability or application.
This, for Ferdinand, reinforces the idea that the situation was a failure of management and environment rather than just a failure of the player.
The whole saga leaves a major question mark over whether Sancho has any long-term future at Manchester United while Erik ten Hag remains in charge, with a permanent summer transfer now looking increasingly likely.
